Deborah Perugi | Perugi Web Design | Wordpress Web Design and Development | Greater Boston | MetroWest

Important: VPS Hosting Upgrade

Deborah Perugi — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:10:42 +0000

After extensive planning with Bluehost, I’ve decided to move all the websites on my shared area on Bluehost to a VPS or Virtual Private Server. Each client will get their own c-panel, with user name and password. I will still be able to access each c-panel, and with Tier 3 and Tier 4 expert Bluehost “white glove” service, be able to solve any issues. You won’t need to go into the c-panel for any reason.

The websites will be moved behind the scenes and you will receive more storage, faster load times and maximum security. My monthly fee for hosting will only go up enough to help pay for these improvements. It will be $16 per month instead of $12, a small hike for optimum hosting.

I also have some clients using shared hosting with Bluehost. I encourage these clients to take advantage of this great discount on improved security and speed. Bluehost will handle the move for a reduced fee. This will be easier for you, as I will be doing the billing instead of Bluehost and I can handle all of your questions.

More and more, security is a key issue with websites and I’m looking forward to offering a product my clients can trust. I will be in touch with more information and you can call me at any time.

Get ADA Compliance to help visually impaired readers read your website

Deborah Perugi — Mon, 13 May 2024 10:10:00 +0000

Perugi Design has recently partnered with AccessiBe to provide ADA compliant accessibility to our websites. This low cost software is easy to install and works via a button to help users that are sight impaired in reading your website content. Find out more by calling or emailing debperugi@gmail.com.

What is web accessibility?
Web accessibility is the inclusive practice of making websites and their digital properties accessible to people with disabilities. The ADA requires that websites be accessible, as they are considered places of public accommodation.

What are the benefits of an accessible website?
1. Mitigate Legal Risk: In 2021, the number of web-related lawsuits in the U.S. saw a 320% increase over the past eight years; the average settlement costs around $30,000. An accessible website could save you time and money that would be spent settling a potential lawsuit.

2. Optimize your website’s reach: Make your website accessible to 15% of the population who are an underserved and loyal group of consumers. Doing so helps you reduce bounce rates and maximizes your site’s reach with enhanced search visibility.

3. It’s the right thing to do: The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion social movement is growing exponentially. Accessibility is a human right, and brands that prioritize it send a clear, positive message that they care about all members of their communities.

Malware, email & plugin errors take experience to resolve

Deborah Perugi — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 20:14:39 +0000

Sometimes it’s inevitable that things don’t go smoothly. Your site is down, you aren’t receiving email or a commonly used tool does not work in WordPress. Read how three such incidences were diagnosed and corrected.

A client’s website was not being backed up by our weekly tool and was giving a 500 error message…. the site was down. A call to Bluehost identified the problem as malware somewhere on the site. A website can have a lot of code, but it is not impossible for someone with experience to find the line causing the problem. Just a little googling of the malware identified by the hosting company and the url address in the ‘scan report’ can locate it. I was able to find the bad code and site was up within a day. How did the malware get in? Most likely from clicking on a suspicious email or using an unsafe password. I recommend Last Pass or a similar tool for keeping more complex passwords.

An associate was transferring to me their control of a complex website. I sucessfully logged into the hosting but it was denying me access and needed confirmation from info@. But the director was not receiving that email “info@” for whatever reason (…a misspelled name on the email!.} So the two of us past and present webmasters worked together to create an email for me and a new one for the director. Now there is access and email success. (My suspicion that the original @info email created for the director was misspelled was correct!)

New client, new website and a page with a simple pdf download and link that was not working correctly. The client is savvy and eager to learn, but just could not figure it out. I looked at it with her and knew that there was something else behind the scenes affecting the page. Last resort: look at the plugins. Sometimes these are not compatible with your theme or builder. I turned off a few at a time and found the plugin that was causing the issue. Not an important one, it turned out. Plugins can become buggie when the developers don’t update them properly.

None of these are a huge deal but can be very frustrating to someone who doesn’t have the experience of seeing these problems time and again. Clients can consult with me when they need to and know there is a solution.

Viva Magenta New Color of 2023

Deborah Perugi — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 16:43:39 +0000

From Architectural Digest: Viva Magenta by Pantone

“A berry red that blurs the lines between warm and cool, Viva Magenta is the bold color that is turning heads on the runway and turning up in the metaverse. Described by Pantone Color Institute’s executive director, Leatrice Eiseman, as “audacious, witty” and like “a fist in a velvet glove,” Viva Magenta can make a statement big or small, whether it is color-drenching kitchen cabinets or simply as an accent in colored glassware on open shelving. Indeed, it’s an appealing option for any room of the home that calls for a color that can be as alluring as it is accessible.”

What can you expect to pay for a website?

Deborah Perugi — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 18:30:53 +0000

People ask me what it costs to build a website. What you are paying for is the time, the taste and experience of a professional, so you can pay more than $100 per hour. How long does it take? It can take ten to twenty hours or more.

What does it entail? You will need a domain and a hosting company. The WordPress software and theme will need to be installed. Content is usually provided by the client, but often needs editing or enhanced to fit into the layout. Images and photos need to be researched, curated and sized. Pages and links need to be planned and a blog started or imported from the previous website. As many or more than ten plugins that add important security and functionality need to be procured and configured.

Check for broken links, test for mobile, and publish. Revisit the domain and point to the correct url. Test for broken links again. Test for mobile again. Wait ten days and check again. Finally add Search Engine Optimization with researched keywords and google analytics to track your progress. It’s a lot of work. But the cost is one time and can be financed over months. The site is yours and can be edited and altered as you grow.

You can alternatively go to a commercial website and hosting company such as Squarespace, Shopify or Wix, and many do. They use predesigned templates that are not builder templates and cannot be modified except with CSS coding. You pay a monthly fee indefinitely and if you decide to change companies, or self publish, you cannot take the site with you.

If you need a simple site that is quick and less complex that may be the way to go. But if you are in the long haul, a self published website is worth the time and effort.

How stock imagery can be a valuable asset of your website

Deborah Perugi — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 17:45:40 +0000

Perugi Design uses stock imagery when designing and editing websites… as many other agencies do. It is ho hum and boring when you use what everyone else uses (and illegal if you copy it from the web). You wont stand out from the crowd if you publish the first stock photo you see. But, with a little ingenuity you can turn stock imagery into unique graphics for a great price. There is an almost limitless amount of photos to choose from if you are willing to spend some time.

It’s true that graphic designers have a lot of training to make exciting images for web sites (and at a cost). But even web site owners can learn a few simple techniques. Mark at Newfangled.com sent out a handy pdf of ways to use stock images and make it your own. Check it out!

https://www.newfangled.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/6-Quick-Tricks-to-Making-Stock-Imagery-Look-Custom-1.pdf

Now Accepting Credit Cards!

Deborah Perugi — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 19:03:06 +0000

Just a few days ago, after I spoke with a tech at Paypal, I decided to change my WEBCARE payment model and stop the subscriptions. Those clients who like the monthly payment plan can keep using it until the end of the year.

The new option is to pay by credit card (YAY!) right on the invoice email! (I know, way overdue!) If you change your card, you don’t have to notify me. You just use the new card as you pay. This is a much more secure way of handing the payments. Either way, I pay a percent, and the bookkeeping is much easier on my end and yours too.

The new invoices will be used immediately for occasional work I do for you and if you are in the basic plan. ($12 or $22 per month plans) or go over the amount of time allotted in the higher plans ($50 or $100).

For new accounts or those who want to change to this plan I will bill you a lump sum for the rest of the year that you can pay within two months.

If you change your card I will automatically move you into this plan, unless you have strong feelings against it. I will do my best to accommodate everyone.

When Website Snags Happen

Deborah Perugi — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 19:12:21 +0000

There are a few annoying things that can happen to your website as time marches on. Right now I am experiencing a PayPal Subscription issue because PP updated their software. Updating software is great especially for increased security where money is involved. I’m all for that.

Unfortunately, these updates that are necessary can also cause a disruption in productivity. My e-commerce set up includes several other pieces of payment software that may not be syncing to the new code Paypal presents. The problem is I just don’t know, so I enlisted Paypal Techs to help solve the issue. Still to be resolved. I won’t bore you with the back and forth that has ensued!

If you have annoyances with your website that you can’t solve, let me know and I will try to help you. Extra time purchased on the subscription can be used for these problems. I may be able to fix the problem myself or handle the calls needed to get the job done.

Starting January slight increase in web care

Deborah Perugi — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 20:19:31 +0000

Manage WP Webcare

WordPress is a Content Managed System. This system, like all systems, need maintenance. I subscribe to Manage WP and use it weekly (or more) to update your website’s themes, plugins and even WordPress. WordPress sends out revisions about twelve times a year and all the other elements need to adjust. I there is a WordPress update in the middle of the week, I will check into MWP again.

Other than updating, I am busy within the WP Manager dashboard watching whether backups are working. If a backup fails, I research why log into your site and fix the problem. Sometimes I upgrade the backups to once a day when a site has been offline or experiencing problems. I pay an extra fee for this.

I can see if there are spam comments populating your website. I check them to make sure they aren’t legitimate comments before sending them to the trash. Once in a while, some of your plugins fail to update, or stop updating, or cause an error. Then there are the credit card changes!

This is all to say, that I spend time keeping my customer’s websites happy and healthy. My fees have not increased ever, so 2022 seems like the time to add $2 to your monthly payments, while still offering competitive rates. I can do this on my end, so you don’t need to give me any more information. Let me know if you have any questions.

$10 monthly fee changes to $12.

$20 monthly fee changes to $22.

$50 monthly fee does not change.

$100 monthly fee does not change.

Consider these important aspects when building a web site.

Customer Support: Are they available 24/7 by email and by phone?
Ease of Use: Does it have Drag and Drop which is the new design and editing tool?
Bandwidth: Are there limitations on space?
Advertising: Will they require an ad placed on your site?
Overall Cost: Are there additional costs for more pages or bandwidth?
Theme design: Are you limited by the number of well designed themes?
Ownership: Do you own the website if you want to change hosting?

New Website for a Manufacturing Company

Deborah Perugi — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 19:06:26 +0000

David’s website was at least six years old. I know because I made the first one. It was way overtime for a refresh and so we got busy finding a new layout, but using the same content, more or less. This layout is an exclusive Divi Builder layout that fit David perfectly, since it had enhanced graphics that matched his work.

I save on resources using Divi for all my designs, because the interface is the same for all the websites I produce… no wasted time learning a new theme, no additional fees for a new theme. And we can easily edit the layout with Divi’s versatile modular sections.

I recommend you don’t hire a developer that will provide a uneditable unique theme and who abandons the design and you for brighter pastures. Go with a self-hosted website that you own and use a builder such as Divi to make your website.

For inspiration, check out David’s new website at hatchmanufacturingsolutions.com.